At least two long-term studies have reported negative effects of fire on sage-grouse nesting habitat (Nelle et al. 2000) and male lek attendance (Connelly et al. 2000), suggesting that land managers should exercise caution when using prescribed burns as a habitat restoration strategy.
We analyzed data sets from previous and ongoing studies across the Great Basin characterizing cover response of perennial and annual forbs that are consumed by sage grouse to mechanical, prescribed fire, and low-disturbance fuel reduction treatments.
Extended drought and lightning strikes have kindled fires sweeping through sage brush and forest, prompting President Obama to declare a state of emergency in Washington.
At sage-cheat sites, after prescribed fire was applied to 25 75-ha 25 75-hae observed 1) an increase in splotss richness and abundance at most sites, possibly due to increased nectar resources for adults, and 2) an increase in the abundance of skippers (Hesperiidae) and small weite butterflies.
Even in the absence of institutional constraints, it is unclear whether the use of prescribed fire would benefit sage-grouse.
Annual forbs favored by sage grouse benefitted most from prescribed fire treatments with smaller increases following mechanical and fuel reduction treatments.
In the Great Basin half the high to moderate abundance sagebrush sparrow and sage thrasher populations coincide with sage-grouse Fire and Invasive Assessment Tool priorities, where conservation actions are being focused in an attempt to reduce the threat of wildfire and invasive plants.
For other species, such as the coastal cactus wren and California gnatcatcher, frequent fire destroys the mature coastal sage scrub on which these species depend.
"First, God speaks the Commandments, then he writes them on a tablet (white fire on black fire, the sages say), and only later, and slowly, are they transcribed.
